building partnerships to create a stronger community

GrowinG needs in our community

over 1,700 children, women and men are identified as homeless by the fairfax county public schools

12.5% of fairfax county residents have incomes under 200 percent of the poverty level ($44,100 per year for a family of four)

25% of fairfax county public school children are on the free and reduced lunch program

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A community in need

A younG motHer on tHe VerGe oF HomeLessness has an

opportunity to receive counseling for a higher paying job, but the training center

is three bus transfers across the county from where her son receives tutoring.

Meanwhile, a volunteer at the immigration counseling center has invested

hours helping a couple process vital paperwork when he learns that their two

children need to be tested for TB. The medical center down the street could

help them, but it’s closed on Wednesdays. They’ll have to come back tomorrow.

Often, the frustration that the homeless and hungry and marginalized in our

community feel each day is shared by the volunteers and staff at non-profits

intended to serve them. Both want access to each other but, for whatever

reason, they just can’t make the connection. tHAt’s wHen HoPe

BeGins to FAde.

“last year (2010) fairfax county took callsfrom over 100,000 people or 10% of its population, many of them people in desperate need. being with connections for hope, having many agencies able to address the needs, whether its housing, health or child care, has been so important in answering those needs.”

A Vision oF HOPE

Kerrie Wilson, Ceo, reston interfaith

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connections For HoPe was developed in response to the growing need in our

community and it was designed to be a resource in the community. Partner organizations

worked together to open Connections for Hope–Herndon on March 15, 2010.

Connections for Hope is a partnership of non-profit organizations and other service

providers that operates under one roof to provide individuals and families in need

with access to a wide and integrated array of services. Connections for Hope is a

hospitable center where people are truly working together for the betterment of our

community, a place clients feel comfortable coming to for services. Services available

range from medical care to language training, tutoring children to legal counseling,

homelessness prevention to mental health services. These and other services foster

the self-sufficiency, good health, and education people of all ages and cultures need

so that they can participate constructively in the life of their community. At the same

time, these members of our community can begin to envision for themselves and their

families a life filled with hope, a world where they have the opportunity to succeed.

A partnership of non-profits and county services strengthens support for the mission

of each organization. The ability to work cooperatively with a range of other services

enables each organization to deliver its programs efficiently and cost-effectively. With

Connections for Hope underwriting a significant portion of the rent and having

partners taking advantage of the economics of resource sharing, each nonprofit has

more financial resources to invest in program development and the delivery of services

to those whose lives depend on them. This partnership allows organizations to work

together more easily on awareness building and collaborative funding. Both clients

and organizations benefit from having multiple services housed in one place and

worKinG toGetHer witH A sHAred PurPose.

A Vision oF HOPE

connections For HoPe brings together, in one easily accessible facility, service providers that serve a wide

range of needs among our community’s underprivileged population, while reducing redundancy and creating new services to

meet the most crucial needs. Clients come into a welcoming, hospitable center that makes accessing these services easier. The

range of services Connections for Hope offers helps individuals and families in many different ways. At Connections for Hope–

Herndon there are six non-profits and one county agency that work together, with several additional services available.

FAirFAx–FALLs cHurcH community serVices BoArd

CSB partners with individuals, families, and the community to provide services to empower and support individuals

with or at risk of developmental delay, intellectual disabilities, mental illness, and alcohol or drug abuse or dependency.

Through their office at Connections for Hope, CSB focuses on linking clients with mental illness and/or substance

abuse issues to the agency’s services, as well as other resources within the community. CSB aims to strengthen their

clients’ capacity for living self-determined, productive and valued lives within our community.

HeLPinG cHiLdren worLdwide

Helping Children Worldwide provides hope to impoverished children and their communities through partnerships that

implement solutions and provide programs of excellence. Helping Children Worldwide is the umbrella organization of

Connections for Hope. HCW also supports the Child Rescue Centre and Mercy Hospital in Sierra Leone, West Africa.

tHe JeAnie scHmidt Free cLinic

The Jeanie Schmidt Free Clinic is a non-profit, community-based organization committed to providing access to

quality health services for uninsured low-income residents of Northwest Fairfax County. The clinic provides primary

medical care, including doctor visits, medications and preventive care through a network of volunteers. Services for

children include school and sports physicals and temporary nonemergency care. Services for adults are restricted to

individuals in the Herndon, Reston, Chantilly, and Centreville areas with high blood pressure and/or diabetes.

COLLABORATIVE APProAcH to serVinG PeoPLe in need

“i think a lot of people when they want to make donations, give their time or give their support are not sure the difference it makes. here you see it, you see the people who get the help, and you see the difference it makes…it’s direct, it’s immediate and it’s right here in our back yard.” Meagan UlriCh, exeCUtive DireCtor, Jeanie sChMiDt free CliniC

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Just neiGHBors

Just Neighbors provides immigration legal services to low-income immigrants and refugees of all faiths

and nationalities in Northern Virginia. The organizations advises immigrants of their options under

immigration law and when possible helps them apply for green cards, work permits and Temporary

Protected Status. Victims of domestic violence may receive assistance through the VAWA or U visa

program. Just Neighbors informs the community about immigration laws and policies.

tHe LiterAcy counciL oF nortHern VirGiniA

The Literacy Council of Northern Virginia teaches adults the basic skills of reading, writing, speaking and

understanding English that they need to pursue further education and job training. With the help of nearly

1400 trained volunteers, LCNV offers four different beginning-level English language programs to teach

approximately 1400 adults beginning level English and literacy skills every year.

reston interFAitH

Reston Interfaith promotes self-sufficiency through support and advocacy for those in need of food,

shelter, affordable housing, quality childcare and other services. Through its offices at Connections for

Hope, Reston Interfaith provides the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program and

foreclosure prevention counseling.

Vecinos unidos neiGHBors united

Vecinos Unidos provides free homework assistance to students in grades 1-6 and offers a summer program

that includes field trips, arts and crafts, games and educational activities. Students often come from homes

where English is not spoken and economic and other factors put them at risk of academic failure.

These and other services and programs are able to work together toward a common goal—sustained

self-sufficiency for all in our community. The partnership of non-profits improves the lives of individuals

and families. entire communities BeneFit From HAVinG sKiLLed,

HeALtHy, educAted citiZens.

COLLABORATIVE APProAcH to serVinG PeoPLe in need

BeneFit oF SHARED sPAce

Connections for Hope is designed to accelerate the successful development of partnering organizations through an array of

support resources and services, encouraging the development of new ideas. Co-locating non-profits and county services into one

space facilitates dialogue and collaboration between organizations, and fosters innovative ideas and ever evolving solutions to the

complex problems experienced in our community.

The non-profits that make up Connections for Hope benefit tremendously from their collaborative relationship with other

organizations, serving the community through shared workspace. Through this partnership, non-profits have a greater capacity to

serve clients, in terms of financial resources, programs, and physical space.

• Affordable, stable space

• Reduced overhead costs

• Collaborative funding opportunities

A PARTNERSHIP For tHe Future

wHAt wAs rAre BeFore—receiving an integrated array of family and community services in a single, convenient

community location—is now a reality thanks to Connections for Hope. A process that once required traveling all over town to

receive service and counseling is now replaced by a sense of hope in what the future offers.

A family comes in for medical care and discovers that job skill training is available for adults just down the hall. As they visit the

office, they find that they can take ESL classes and that children have access to after-school homework assistance. In one of the

partner organizations, someone at risk for homelessness receives counseling to help with financial and credit management.

“we are approaching help to the community in a broad spectrum. it’s not just one organization doing a single thing. it’s a group of organizations who can pool their resources and their connections to be able to serve the community in a better way.” BarBara sorenson, PresiDent, veCinos UniDos neighBors UniteD

• Mission-enhancing collaboration

• Dedicated meeting/training space

• Greater visibility of participating organizations

• Operational efficiency and shared resources

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The need to establish more conveniently located facilities that pursue an integrated collaborative approach

to serving the needs of the community could not be more pressing. While many of us live and work in

one of the most affluent counties in the country, we also have a significant number of people and families

living beneath the poverty level. And while the county and non-profits currently provide an array of

services, tHe need For tHese serVices continues to Grow. Rather

than investing in more programs and resources to reach clients, many non-profits struggle with operating

costs, especially rent. The strategic vision for Connections for Hope is to establish two more centers by

2017. To accomplish this vision we are looking for strategic partners to help in all phases:

PHAse 1

Our goal is to reach operational sustainability at Connections for Hope—Herndon. Developing a

marketing plan, establishing an advisory council and adding partners to fill in the gaps in services we

provide. We plan to gain visibility and recognition within the community as a welcoming place that

provides needed services and generates positive results.

PHAse 2

During this phase we will research and develop strategic partners for opening future Connections for

Hope centers. Working from lessons learned and best practices used in developing Connections for

Hope—Herndon we will develop new partnerships.

PHAse 3

Our vision is to establish multiple Connection for Hope centers in Northern Virginia. During phase

three we will secure the non-profit and county partnerships needed to open a second and third center.

Secure the financial support needed to underwrite rental and start-up costs for the first year as each center

establishes itself and gains visibility.

strAteGic VisioninG tHAt BUILDS COMMUNITY

HeLP us CONNECT

Connections for Hope is a powerful combination of community resources that can work closely together

to address the needs of individuals and families in our community. Your organization can be part of

this exciting endeavor. In building this partnership of comprehensive resources, you can help us build a

stronger community—one of compassion, empowerment, and hope.

Connections for Hope underwrites a significant portion of the costs, enabling the partner organizations

to work in collaboration under one roof. The outcome is that more people are helped by multiple services

in a convenient, one-stop location. When you support Connections for Hope, you are supporting all

of the partnering organizations. You can be part of this exciting endeavor. Connections for Hope is an

opportunity for businesses, faith communities, individuals, non-profit service providers and government

entities to have a larger impact supporting our community. Join us in this important and impactful work.

For more inFormAtion, PLeAse contAct us.

Sarah Newman, Director

Connections for Hope

13525 Dulles Technology Drive, Suite 103

Herndon, VA 20171

sarahnewman@helpingchildrenworldwide.org

www.connectionsforhope.org

Connections for Hope is a program of Helping Children Worldwide, a 501 (c) 3 organization whose mission is to transform the lives of impoverished children through partnerships and programs of excellence.

CONNECTIONS fOR HOPEA ProGrAm oF HeLPinG cHiLdren worLdwide

13525 duLLes tecHnoLoGy driVe, suite 103

Herndon, VA 20171

sArAHnewmAn@HeLPinGcHiLdrenworLdwide.orG

www.connectionsForHoPe.orG